Grain-elevator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-'Sheet l.

M. F. SHELBY.

GRAIN ELEVATOR.

No. 336,755. Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

N. PETERS. PhuwLiuwgnpher. Wamiugean. D. C.

(No Model.) v2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. F. SEELEY.

GRAIN ELBVATOR.

N0. 336,755. Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

uw Il 'Illll idw D Nv PEYERs. Pholomhugnpher. wmingxm D. z;

of the elevator. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

' MARQUIS F. SEELEY, OF FREMONT, NEBRASKA.

GRAIN-ELEVATOR.

S?ECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent; No. 336,755, dated February23, 1886.

Application filed June 13, 1885. Serial Xo. 168,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAnQUIs F. SEELEY, of Fremont, in the county ofDodge and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Grain-Elevators; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In aprior patent, No. 288,371, granted to the present applicant upon the18th day of November, 1883, a structure for handling and storing grainis shown, having a unitary upper structure, forming its bottom, arrangedto slope from the sides of the building toward its center, and formingthe bottoms of a series of storage-bins extending to the roof, and ofreceiving and other bins placed under a working-iioor inthe central partof the building, the bins mentioned being therein shown as constructedto discharge their contents at the lower end of the two elevator'beltsextending to the top of the building. As shownin said patent, also, theelevators are provided with casings or legs which are continuous fromthe top to the bottom of the building, and which form thesupporting-frame from which the several operative parts immediatelyconnected with the elevator-belts are mounted.

The present invention relates to improvements in the construction ofelevators of the class shown in said patent, and also to otherimprovements in elevators, as will hereinafter appear.

,stood by reference, to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa sectional plan view of an elevator-building constructed in accordancewith my invention, taken upon line x x of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the lower part of the building, takenupon the indirect line :v w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailsection through the lower end of the elevator casing or legs. Fig. 4 isa detail section of a modified form of the parts adjacent to theinlet-opening view illustrating the casing for connecting theexit-opening of one of the bins with the cornsheller shown in Figs. 1and 2. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same.

In the particular construction illustratedin the drawings, A A are theoutside walls of the building. B B are two transverse parallelpartitions therein; and C C are storage-bins located between the endwalls of the building and the said partitions, and formed byradially-arranged partitions, c c c, the bottom of said bins being, asshown, inclined downwardly from the outer walls of the building toward apoint at the middle of said partitions.

D D are two elevator-belts inclosedin boxes, legs, or casings D D', andlocated at theirlower end in a pit or depression, C3, located belowr thelevel of the discharge-openings c of the bins C, and at a littledistance laterally therefrom. The grain discharged from the saidopenings is delivered into the said pit by means of an inclined surface,C, which is located between the partitions B B, and slopes from the wallof the building to the said pit, the grain falling upon t-he saidsurface being directed to the lower end of the elevator-casings by meansof inclined guides c2, as clearly shown inFig. l of the drawings. Theelevator-belts pass at their lower ends over the usual pulleys, d d,having suitable bearings at t-he lower ends of the casing D', as shown.

Eis a working-floor, which is placed between the partitions B B.

F is a driveway on the level with the floor, by means of which grain maybe brought into the building; and G G are lower compartments orreceiving-bins into which grain may be discharged through a suitableaperture, f, in the door of the driveway. The receiving-bins G G have acommon inclined bottom, G', which slopes to the pit C3, beforementioned, and they are separated by a central vertical partition, G2.At the lower end of the bins G are discharge-gates g, arranged oppositethe inlet` openings in the elevator-boxes D', whereby grain may bepermitted to pass from said bins to the elevator. A bin, I, for cleanedgrain, is located upon the upper portion of the inclined surface C2 andadapted to discharge upon the lower portion of said surface, as fullyset forth in the said patent.

The features of the device above described IOO are constructed andoperate generally in the manner set forth in the said prior patent;

As an improvement in grain-elevators, applicable to those of thecharacter above described, and also to other elevating devices forgrain, I provide an exhaust-fan, J, or otherl air-exhausting device, andconnect said fan by means of air trunks or ducts K with the passage bywhich grain is delivered to the casing of the elevator, whereby air maybe drawn forcibly from the said passage, and the light impuritiesthereby separated from the grain before the latter passes to theelevatorbuckets.

In the particular construction herein shown the discharge-opening gofthe receiving-bins G are connected with the opening d', by which thegrain enters the casing,by means of a short spout or passage, K', towhich the air-trunk K is connected at a point adjacent to the easing ofthe elevator.

rlhe exhaust-fan .I may be actuated in any desired manner, said fan inthe construction illustrated being driven by means of an engine, L,located upon the floor E of the building.

By the use of the exhaust-fan connected in the manner described thegrain, in case it contains a relatively small quantity of lightimpurities, may be sufficiently cleaned to render any other cleaningunnecessary, and when the passage of the grain through a cleaningmachineis necessary, by such preliminary cleaning the amount of work to be doneby the said machine is greatly decreased.

It will be observed that the inlet-opening of the air-duct K is locatedadjacent to the point where the grain is taken into the elevatorbuckets,and the grain being shaken or stirred upby theaction ofthe said buckets,the action ofthe air-current in taking up the light inipurities from thegrain 'is greatly facilitated.

A slightly different and preferred construction in the parts isillustrated in Fig. 4, in which the passage K' is provided with anaperture, k, which may be covered with wirecloth or other perfor-atematerial, as shown, and which preferably communicates with the open airby means of a duct, K2, or otherwise, so that an air-current may becaused to pass transversely through the grain wit-hin the passage K',and thereby more thoroughly re` move the light impurities from thelatter..

The advantages existing in the use of the exhaust-fan and theconnections shown for removing the light impurities from the grainbefore its delivery to the elevating device of the elevators mayobviously be obtained by means other than those shown, and my inventionis not, therefore, as it relates to the devices mentioned, restricted tothe particular means shown,but said devices, in connection with anelevating device, are broadly herein claimed.

As heretofore made, the elevator legs or casing D', forming thesupporting-frame of the operating parts of the elevator, have beenattached to the' upper edge of and constructed to rest upon a cast-metalcasing or shoe, within which the grain is delivered and from which it isremoved by the scoops or buckets of the elevator. rIhis construction hasthe obvious disadvantage of bringing the entire Weight of the upper partof the elevator upon the said casting, and the latter has beennecessarily made of objectionable thickness and weightin order towithstand the strain thus caused.

As an improved construction in the parts mentioned, I extend the sidepieces, d', of the casing D', downwardly outside of the shoe D2 to asuitable supporting-piece or foundation, D3, placed below the shoe. Bythis means the downward pressure due to the weight of the upper parts ofthe elevating device is transmitted directly through the side pieces ofthe legs to the foundation D3, and the casing or shoe is thereforeunaffected by the downward thrust of the latter. The said shoe,in theparticular construction herein shown,is constructed of sheet metal withvertical side plates, d2, secured upon the inner face of the sidepieces, d', of the casings, said side plates, d2, being connected by acurved plate, D4, forming the bottom of the casing.

As a further improvement in elevatorbuildings of the character shown insaid patent,

the upper part of one of the receiving bins or compartments G is dividedfrom the lower part thereof by means of an inclined partition, G3, so asto forni a bin or hopper, G4, more especially intended for corn in theear, said bin being constructed to discharge at its lower end into acorn-Sheller, M, located upon the inclined surface G' and adapted todischarge into the lower part of the hopper G.

A preferred means for supporting the cornsheller is herein shown, inwhich the lower beams, M', of the Sheller-frames are inclined at thesame angle as the fioor orsurface G', so that the said corn-sheller mayrest and be secured upon the said oor,vand the making of a separatehorizontal foundation for the cornsheller is thereby renderedunnecessary.

The hopper G4, herein shown, embodies novel features of construction atits part adjacent to its exit-opening, whereby liability ofthe latterbecoming stopped or choked by the wedging or bridging over of theearcorn or other large material between the opposite walls of the hopperis practically obviated. For this purpose the said hopper is, as clearlyshown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, provided at two adjacent sides of itsexit-opening with vertical walls N, the walls G5 G6 of the hopperopposed to the said walls N being inclined downwardly to the saidexit-opening in the usual manner. The vertical walls N in usual casesextend about a foot or a foot and a half above the lower margins of theopposite walls G5 G", the inclined walls G3 and GT of the bin beingconstructed to slope to the upper edges of the said vertical wall in anobvious manner.

In the operation of the hopper constructed as above described the earsadjacent to the IOO casting, N, adapted for attachment by bolts 'orotherwise to the margins of the inlet-open ing thereof, said castingbeing rect-angular in plan, and provided at two of its sides withvertical parts N2, extending above the hori' zontal parts Nof thecasting, and forming the vertical walls N oi the hopper.

In constructing the wooden parts of the hopper of the casing abovedescribed two of the inclined walls of the hopper, as G5 G, Fig. 2, areconstructed to slope downwardly to and are connected at their lowermargins with the lower horizontal parts of the casting N', and the twoopposite walls G3 G1 are connected at their lower edges with the upperedge of the vertical parts N of said casting.

In constructing the wooden parts of a hopper by the use of a casting,N', as described, the two triangular spaces (one of which is indicatedat g2, Figs. 2, 5, and 6) at the vertical sides or edges of the wall Nmay be lled by a triangular piece of plank, or by triangular extensionscast upon the walls N.

The construction of the parts mentioned will be made more clear byexamination of the perspective view, Fig. 6, in which the parts of thehopper nearest the eye are indicated by dotted lines.

rIhe novel features of construction in the hopper herein shown and abovedescribed form the subject of another application for patent, Serial No.168,574, iiled by me upon the 13th da)r of June, 1885, in whichapplication said hopper is broadly claimed. Said novel features ofconstruction in the hopper are, however, also herein claimed as appliedto a structure for storing grain.

In practice the inletaperture of the Sheller and the casting are madesquare in plan, so that the latter may be placed upon the sheller withthe walls N in any position found desirable.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the door of the driveway F above thereceiving-bins G and G4, with a dumping device consisting of pivotedtimbers O, located at the sides of the opening f, and adapted to receivethe wheels of a wagon and to be tilted with said wagon, so as todischarge the load into the said openingf, which is provided with a dooror iiap, j", which is closed to permit the passage of horses over it. Asan improvement in such dumping device, whereby the wheels of a wagonpassing into the driveway may be readily guided into proper positionupon the dump-timbers, curved guidestrips O2 are secured upon the doorof the driveway in position suitable for the purpose, as clearly shownin Fig. l. In connection with the said guide-strips C)2 longitudinalguide strips O may be employed to hold the wheelsproperly in place inpassing over and while resting upon the dump'timbers. I he guide-stripsO', as herein shown, are attached to the dumptimbers themselves; but asfar as the operation of the guide-strips O2 is concerned saidguide-strips O may be otherwise attached, as found desirable orconvenient.

Other guide-strips, O3, are preferably se- `cured upon the iioor at theend ofthe dumptimbers, from which the wheels pass, so that in case thewagon is driven too far over the timbers the front wheels will be heldin place when backing the wagon into its proper po sition upon thetimbers.

I claim as my inventionl. In a building for storing grain, thecombination, with an elevator and storage and receiving bins, of anexhaust-fan or equivalent device applied to remove the light impuritiesfrom the grain in its passage from the receiving bin to the elevatingdevices of the elevator, substantially as described.

2. In a building for storing grain, the combination, with an elevatorand a receiving- -bin, of a passage connecting the receiving-bin withthe lower end of the elevator-casing, an exhaust-fan, and an air-ductconnecting the fan with the said passage, whereby light impurities maybe removed from the grain before its delivery to the elevating devicesofthe elevator, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with an elevator anda receiving-bin, of a passagefor grain connecting the receiving-bin with the lower end oftheelevator-casing, and an exhaust-fan communirool eating with saidpassage, the latter being provided with an air-inlet opening or openingsat a point opposite the opening leading to the fan, whereby a current ofair may be drawn through the grain in said passage, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a building for storing grain, the combination, with an elevatorand a metal shoe for the lower pulley of said elevator, of a foundationfor 4the elevator, said elevator having the lower ends of its legs orcasings eX- tended downwardly past the said shoe to the foundation, andconstructed to rest upon the latter, substantially as described.

5. In a building for storing grain, the combination, with the elevatingdevices and storagebins, of a receiving-bin, G", for ear-corn, and acorn-Sheller, M, connected with the discharge-opening of the said binG4, and constru cted to discharge to the lower end of the elevatingdevices, substantially as described.v

6. In abuilding for storing grain provided with elevating devices, aninclined or hopper bottom sloping toward the lower end of the elevatingdevices, and a working-door, E, of a receiving-bin, G4, located beneaththe work- IIO ing-floor, and a corn-Sheller, M, located upon the saidhopper-bottorn beneath the said receivingbin G4, substantially as andfor the purpose Yset forth.

7. In a building for storing grain, the combination, with an elevatorand an Yinclined surface or floor, G', sloping downwardly to theinlet-opening of the elevator, ol" a corn-Sheller having the lowertimbers of its supportingframe inclined to correspond withtheinclination of said floor or surface, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

8. In a building for storing'grain, a hopper provided in its partadjacent to its exit-opening with opposite vertical and inclined Walls,substantially as described.

9. In a building for storing grain, the combination of a corn-Shellerand a hopper discharging into the corn-Sheller, and provided inits partadjacent to its exitopening with two vertical walls, and having itswalls opposite said vertical walls inclined, substantially as described.

10. In abuilding for storing grain, the conlbination,with acorn-sheller,M, and the Wooddriveway, and pivoted dump-timbers O, of

guide-strips O2, secured to the said floor at one end of thedump-timbers, and other guidestrips, O3, secured to the said floor atthe opposite end olf said timbers, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

MARQUIS E. SEELEY.

Vitnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, G. F. LANAGHEN.

